Greens announce plan for legal and accessible abortion

THE Australian Greens today announced a $15 million plan to improve the accessibility and affordability of abortion nationally.

Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for women, said 80 per cent of Australians supported a woman's right to choose.

"Abortion should be legal, accessible and affordable. Access to abortion is part of every woman's right to make decisions about her own body.

"Currently, there are problems with affordability and accessibility across the country, especially in regional areas, while in Queensland and New South Wales abortion is still considered a crime in some circumstances.

"In Queensland, just 1 per cent of terminations are carried out in the public system so many women face hundreds or even thousands of dollars in costs in the private system.

"There are only three private abortion clinics north of the Sunshine Coast, leaving women in some rural Queensland areas to travel over 1000 kilometres or up to 8 hours.